Viña del Mar

Application Deadlines: See this page

Language Requirement: Open to all levels of Spanish. Classes available in English & Spanish.

Possible U.S. Credits: 12-20 semester credits (180-320 contact hours). 15 contact hours = 1 semester credit. 10 contact hours = 1 quarter unit. Normal course load is 4 courses. Classes are taken with American and other international students.

Final Transcript: Issued by Universidad Viña del Mar

PLACEMENT TEST

Students who wish to take classes in Spanish will take a Spanish placement test administered by UVM. To take electives in Spanish, you must have completed at least 4 semesters or 5 quarters of college level Spanish and test into at least B1 (Intermediate) level on the UVM placement test. You can approximate your Spanish level using the following:

-Beginner level students are those who have not taken Spanish before.
-Elementary/Pre-Intermediate level students have completed 1-3 semesters or 2-3 quarters of college level Spanish.
-Intermediate level students have completed 4-5 semesters/quarters of college level Spanish.
-High Intermediate level students have completed at least 5 semesters or 6 quarters of college level Spanish.

MANDATORY ALTERNATE COURSES

You must have a TOTAL OF 8 COURSES APPROVED by your home institution. This will give you back-ups in case of changes in course availability or schedule conflicts. When you pre-register for classes (this happens after you’re accepted), you will have to list a total of 8 different classes that you can take. We will not be able to pre-register you unless you provide us with 8 different courses. 

Course offerings are subject to change.  

SEMESTER IN ENGLISH

Those who select the "Semester in English" track will take 4 courses in English from the list below. If you test into at least B1 (Intermediate) Spanish level, you can take up to 2 of your courses from the "Semester in Spanish" offerings below.

BUSINESS & MARKETING

Taught in English

Corporate Social Responsibility – 64 contact hours
By effectively using key concepts and terms, students will understand the historical context within which the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) developed. They will also apply this understanding in thoughtful analysis of selected CSR and Sustainability Reports obtained through online research, as well as, develop an approach to and position on the ethical dimensions of ‘corporate citizenship’ in a global economy.

Effective Business Communication Skills – 64 contact hours
The objective of this course is to introduce the concept of business communication, simultaneously teach the key communication skills/techniques that are extremely useful when entering the corporate world and help the students in becoming better professionals. Some of the key focus areas of this course are delivering impactful presentations, the art of public speaking, mastering impromptu speech, cracking interviews through effective communication, among others.

Globalization of Art and its Marketing – 64 contact hours
In this course, students will examine the unique and shared elements of artists from different countries, evaluating the effect of globalization on smaller artists and big art conglomerates. Marketing described as the art form of the 21st century will be analyzed through the exploration of the works and marketing success of artists such as Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst. Street art will also be one of the central topics of the course as a counterexample of consumer culture, looking at both the renowned Bansky as well as regional street art of Valparaiso.

Globalization – 64 contact hours
The goal of this course is to equip students with a basic knowledge about the multifaceted socio-economic and cultural process known as globalization, by developing their ability to assess the major arguments concerning its consequences. This is achieved through the examination of questions such as: What is globalization? How is it manifested? What drives it? What determines the distribution of gains and losses arising from globalization? The course finally provides a more robust understanding of how businesses and societies adapt, profit or react against this process.

Green Economy – 64 contact hours
This module is intended for undergraduate students of any discipline who want to learn about crucial issues in sustainable economic development and natural resource management, from water security to climate change. It provides participants with a basic qualitative understanding of the key theoretical concepts and examines how these are being applied in practice around the world today, from payments for ecosystem services to environmental certification.

Leadership: Essential skills to become an effective leader – 64 contact hours
Leadership is a complex process by which the leader influences others to perform and achieve. This course provides the basis for understanding what leadership is and what leaders do to be successful. This is a highly interactive course based on the application of theoretical concepts of leadership to practical situations. Analysis of different important leaders, audiovisual material and case studies will be used extensively during the course to develop the leader within each student.

Management Skills and Crisis Management – 64 contact hours
Management Skills and Crisis Management are of essential importance in business. This course interrelates different factors involved in the Management Process, from stability to crisis. The main focuses will be understanding basic psychology, different management styles, general business context and the effects of externalities and crisis management.

Marketing Trends in Latin America – 64 contact hours
This course will focus in Marketing trends and strategies in Latin America. Students will learn about socio–cultural issues, economic and political – legal environment, together with strategic and marketing considerations when doing business in Latin American countries. Learning approach will be base in cases of study as well as lectures and a team project.

Multicultural Global Business Management – 64 contact hours
With so many organizations operating in a multinational environment today, it is easy to assume that the increasing connection among countries, and the globalization of corporations, would result in cultural differences disappearing or diminishing. Yet, on the contrary, as economic borders come down, cultural barriers often go up, thus presenting new challenges. Students will learn techniques, through highly interactive methods, on how you can excel, when they work for a global company or in a different country, with teams across continents.

Negotiation Strategies – 64 contact hours
The Negotiation Process is of essential importance in business. It focuses on the Economic, Political, Social and Geopolitical context, which is necessary when it comes to truly understanding the different negotiation processes and styles. The course will help to understand the Negotiation Process from an integrated point of view, with focus on the analysis of externalities. Its main contents are: Historical, Economic, Political and Geopolitical Contexts; Basic Psychology; Negotiation and Leadership and Financial Analysis.

Shock Doctrine: 40 Years of Neoliberalism – 64 contact hours
This course studies how neoliberalism became from ideological and political ideal into being the dominant political and economic model worldwide. The course makes a comparative study of three nations which were at the forefront in implementing neoliberal economic and political principles into reality. The countries studies are Chile, United States and Great Britain, in particular in three different phases of these past 40 years of neoliberal policies. Stage One: Neoliberal implementation period (1980-1990). Stage Two: Neoliberalism rise and development, market openings and implementation of free trade accords (1990-2000).  Stage Three: Consolidation of neoliberal model, the nascent criticism to deep questioning to the current neoliberal model (2000-to today).

HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Taught in English

Critical Narratives on Global and Local Order – 64 contact hours
After approximately 25 years of neoliberal domination, critical ideas are beginning to reappear in mainstream literature. The purpose of this course is cross-disciplinary and strives to understand the structure, form and arguments of some contemporary and critical ideas, the paradigms they represent, and how they relate to the present world order and in some cases, how they envision its fall. The question of justice within social, economic and political spheres in the international system are at the center of these arguments, but these spheres are not isolated from other spheres such as history, identity and pedagogy especially when seen from the locality of Latin America.

Cross-Cultural Engagement and Skill Development – 64 contact hours
This course is based on studies that have shown that students are likely to gain a more profound and enriching intercultural experience if equipped with a theoretical framework within which they can analyze and interpret their experiences. The purpose of this course is to enhance the intercultural sensitivity and awareness of the student during their stay in Chile by providing tools which help make the most of the immersion experience and its transformative potential. The course will introduce students to several theories, concepts and strategies that will help them better understand and advance their own process of intercultural encounter here in Chile. The required readings will provide the framework, but in-class activities and guided discussions as well as tutored investigations into Chilean cultural habits will allow students to develop intercultural skills such as to aid the student’s personal reflection and comprehension of cultural experiences.

Gender and Sexual Minority Studies in Latin America and Chile – 64 contact hours
This course analyzes concepts and definitions of Gender in the context of Latin American Feminism. Students will study of psychological, anthropological, social and political dimensions of gender and their relation to power and social inequality. They will also research and examine gender-related experiences in Chile.

Human Rights in Latin America – 64 contact hours
Through international reports, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, we will see the specific situation of Human Rights different countries in Latin America during the current decade. Discussions in the classes will look into current issues, such as violence, abortion, public campaigns and minorities, so students can have a deeper understanding of the social realities from a Human Rights perspective. Students will also learn to respond to these issues by using different methods for planning and evaluating projects. This way, they will be able to apply the course’s conceptual elements to a specific scenario to create a social, political or cultural change.

Indigenous Peoples in Chile – 64 contact hours
The Mapuche are the largest and most influential indigenous population in Chile. From a long history of violent exploitation by Spain and Chile, recent years have seen a revival and a reassertion of Mapuche ethnic identity in their 500-year-old struggle for the land. This course is an in-depth approach to the ethnic identity of the Mapuche culture. Identity will be examined as a broad concept that includes history, origin, myth, language, ritual, personhood and worldview. Throughout these topics a central red line can be traced in the relationship with the “other”, the non-Mapuche, whether it is a Spanish colonial “other” or a Chilean contemporary “other”. Both historical as well as anthropological perspectives will be used to understand this broad constellation of identity.

Latin American History of Ideas – 64 contact hours
Besides the obvious political associations of left and right, why is it that most people tend to associate only certain types of expressions with Latin American culture and tradition, like dancing, music, poetry and literature? This course will strive to inform you about the less known but equally interesting and more rational based forms of intellectual culture within Latin America in a contemporary perspective. It will focus on the side of these traditions that reflect towards their own Latin American circumstance offering a generally critical perspective. The course has a cross-disciplinary approach and will offer readings from a variety of topics, such as identity, racism, history, economics, pedagogy and philosophy.

Latin America Regional Scenario in the 21st Century – 64 contact hours
This course defines and explains the concepts of political power, totalitarianism, ideology, dictatorship, democracy and national interest, to apply them to the Latin American reality today. During the semester, the students will identify the socio-cultural elements that shaped the Latin American Identities, in order to explain the evolution and outcome of political and economic models applied in the region during the twentieth century and twenty first century. Since the course explains the historical differences and similarities amongst the Latin American countries, it helps to develop a different vision from the usual stereotypes. The main representative cases will be focused on the recent political crisis in Venezuela, Argentina and Chile.

Latin America Social Movements – 64 contact hours
Social movements have become relevant agents for social change within Latin America, particularly in the last few decades with the return to democracy of several nations. They have influenced social development within central areas such as Education, Environment, Urban Development, Work, and Gender. This class will be dedicated to the analysis and comprehension of Latin American social movements by studying different approaches and authentic cases, while reflecting on their impacts within their particular social scenarios. Each topic will be accompanied by examples that will range from Gender movements in Mexico, to Students movement in Chile and the Landless Movement in Brazil. The main goal is to allow students to put into question the different movements’ actions, orientations, structures and discourse, among other relevant factors, to better comprehend these subjects within social sciences.

Post-Dictatorship and Popular Culture in Chile – 64 contact hours
This course is designed to offer students a critical understanding of the complex trajectory of popular culture in Chile from the 1970’s to present day. This will be accomplished through the analysis of literature, art, film, and music. The patterns of production and consumption of popular culture examined by this course can be divided into three general periods: The Revolutionary Period of Activist Art, The Allegorical Period of State Repression and Censorship, and the Period of Remembrance, Recognition, and Reconciliation.

Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development – 64 contact hours
The poorest are the ones hardest hit with environmental issues as they often depend directly on natural resources for their daily needs and livelihoods (for firewood, food and building material, fishing). Desperate for employment, poor people suffer the unhealthiest work environments. Without much choice as to where to live, they are more exposed to disasters such as floods, fires, toxic dumps, and polluted air and water. As their quality of life declines their health deteriorates, these environmental issues render them even less able to make a living. Far from being anti-development, environmental policies can be used to protect the health and livelihoods of poor people and increase their political and economic power.

Social Inequality, Exclusion, and Democracy – 64 contact hours
This course introduces various ways of thinking about power, freedom, and social inequality in the 21st century, considering the effects that neoliberal globalization and new technologies of governance have had on democracy and citizenship. It looks at political and social responses to the major economic changes we have witnessed over the last 40 years and asks whether there are any alternatives to the neoliberal model. The module is multidisciplinary and is designed for undergraduate students of all academic backgrounds. Students are encouraged to participate in lectures by sharing their own views and ideas on important global developments, from the rise of private institutions that are “too big to fail” to the international management of migration.

Ethics and Development – 64 contact hours
This course will not be a theoretical or philosophical discussion about Ethics or its history, but an intensive individual and group practical reflection on personal and social behavior in order to be happier and better individuals. A strong engagement of all participants in personal reading, elaboration of papers and above all, sharing own ideas and respecting them is required to achieve a significant and useful work and learning outcome.

Travel Literature– 64 contact hours
A land of encounter and finding, of retreat and loss, Latin America is the place where man finally stopped his wandering throughout the world. Finis Terrae, Land’s End. This continent has been described and recreated by many travelers, who along with giving a lucid glimpse of this region and its people; they also revealed much of their own selves. This course aims to approach these kaleidoscopic gazes of South America from a human scale: Latin America or a “nostalgia for the space”.

SEMESTER IN SPANISH

A B1 (Intermediate) level of Spanish is required to enroll in the "Semester in Spanish" track. Students in this track will take 4 courses in Spanish from the list below, or you can take 1-2 courses from the Semester in English offerings above plus 2-3 courses in Spanish from the list below.

Three core language courses are offered at each Spanish level. You can take all 3 language classes in your level, just 2, just 1, or none. (It is not mandatory to take the core language courses.) Language levels listed below are from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Minimum of 4 students per class required to run a course.

BEGINNER SPANISH LANGUAGE

A1 (Beginner) level is for complete beginners who have not taken any Spanish before. 

• Communicational Strategies of Written Spanish: Grammar & Composition – 64 contact hours

• Communicational Spanish and Chilean Culture – 64 contact hours

• Spanish Phonetics – 64 contact hours

• Intercultural Learning: Spanish and Mapudungún - 64 contact hours

ELEMENTARY SPANISH LANGUAGE

A2 (Elementary or Pre-Intermediate) is for those who have had a little Spanish study before.  This may include students who took Spanish in high school but not in college, as well as students who have taken one semester of Spanish in college.  

• Communicational Strategies of Written Spanish: Grammar & Composition – 64 contact hours

• Communicational Spanish and Chilean Culture – 64 contact hours

• Spanish Phonetics – 64 contact hours

• Intercultural Learning: Spanish and Mapudungún - 64 contact hours

INTERMEDIATE SPANISH LANGUAGE

B1 (Intermediate) level is for students who have taken 2-3 semesters of college Spanish.

• Communicational Strategies of Written Spanish: Grammar & Composition – 64 contact hours

• Communicational Spanish and Chilean Culture – 64 contact hours

• Spanish Phonetics – 64 contact hours

• Intercultural Learning: Spanish and Mapudungún - 64 contact hours

HIGH INTERMEDIATE SPANISH LANGUAGE

B2 (High Intermediate) level is for students who have taken 3-4 semesters of college Spanish. 

• Communicational Strategies of Written Spanish: Grammar & Composition – 64 contact hours

• Communicational Spanish and Chilean Culture – 64 contact hours

• Spanish Phonetics – 64 contact hours

• Intercultural Learning: Spanish and Mapudungún - 64 contact hours

ELECTIVES IN SPANISH

Open to Intermediate level (B1) and above, based on placement test

Contemporary Chile - 64 contact hours
In this course, students will learn about the contemporary history of Chile from 1970 to present days and the effect of neoliberal model as an economic, social and cultural phenomenon, favoring oral and written communicative exchanges between students.

Contemporary Issues in Latin America – 64 contact hours
This course reviews and explains the political, economic, cultural and security of individual Latin American states, highlighting issues such as governance, political organization, production, markets, income distribution and intra-and interstate conflict. The course also examines the similarities and differences between the Latin American region, the United States, Europe and Asia.

Cultures in Contact – 32 contact hours
This course introduces students to international and Chilean intercultural communication studies focusing on the origin of the cultures to achieve greater understanding of differences and similarities of each culture.

Latin America through Cinema – 64 contact hours
Latin Americans seek their identity through art.  This allows them to integrate their vision of themselves with their world.  This course approaches the Latin American condition not only from the historical, but also from the cultural aspect and the film itself.  Through film it is possible to see multicultural issues on the continent, taking into account how each country, in conforming to Latin America, has developed a distinctive culture.  The cinematic approach, then, reflects this multiculturalism: films will be screened for Chilean, German, Danish, and British directors to demonstrate the richness present in Latin America.

Latin American Literature – 64 contact hours
This course aims to give its students a thorough overview of Latin American literature, both narrative and poetry. From the mid-20th century onwards, authors such as Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel García Márquez, and Pablo Neruda reinvigorated the Spanish language by scoping its presence within the Latin American identity and bringing its otherness into the Spanish speaking worldview. This linguistic revolution, however, was not based solely on the work of male authors. The Chilean writer Maria Luisa Bombal spearheaded a feminist narrative wave which articulated for the first time the desires and longing of the urban modern Latin American woman, through a female voice constantly silenced by the male-centered reality. Thus, this course’s thematic approach seeks to illustrate the creative richness within the Latin American worldview.

Linguistic Varieties in the Hispanic World - 64 contact hours
Students will be able to compare the most significant linguistic varieties in the Hispanic world, reviewing the causes, development and main examples of the varieties of Spanish.

Mapuche: A Culture and People in Resistance - 64 contact hours
In this course, students will learn about the history of Mapuche people, its culture and the current conflicts between the State, Chilean society and Mapuche people. This will allow the students to have communicative exchanges and writings among them.

Popular Culture and Mestizo People in Chile – 64 contact hours
This course will allow the students to know more about Chile’s popular culture, its representation forms and the identity between the popular culture and mestizo people from the second part of XX century to the current century. This will allow the students to have communicative exchanges and writings among them.

Revolution in Latin America – 64 contact hours
Students in this course will learn about the Latin America history through the study of revolutions and their forms of representation in society. This will allow the students to have communicative exchanges and writings among them.

Social Movements in Latin America – 64 contact hours
The objective of this course is to analyze collective action and social commitment in order to understand the special characteristics of Latin American mobilizations. Students will learn about various social movements, how a global justice discourse is developed along with how to evaluate various social problems. This course will provide the opportunity to question the notions of “revolution”, “citizenship” and “democracy.” Once students understand the basis of how social movements are created, they will learn to analyze contemporary issues that cut across Latin America.

Socioeconomic Evolution of Latin America – 64 contact hours
This course reviews and explains the political, economic, cultural and social aspects of Latin American states. It highlights issues of governance, political organization, production, markets, income distribution and interstate conflict. The course will also examine the similarities and differences between the Latin American region and the world.

Application Deadlines: See this page

Language Requirement: Open to all levels of Spanish. Classes available in English & Spanish.

Possible U.S. Credits: 5-6 semester credits (88 contact hours). 15 contact hours = 1 semester credit.  10 contact hours = 1 quarter unit. Classes are taken with American and other international students.

Final Transcript: Issued by Universidad Viña del Mar

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This is an intensive Spanish language program offered during two 4-week sessions (Summer I and Summer II). Both of the Spanish language courses listed under each level are mandatory for students who place into that level.

Students have the option of participating in 18 hours of volunteer work during their program.

Please remember that because Chile is in the southern hemisphere, summer in the U.S. is actually winter there.  The winter season is quite mild, with average temperatures between 32 and 59 degrees.  Many students take the opportunity to go skiing during their free time at one of the many ski resorts near Santiago.

PLACEMENT TEST

Students will take a Spanish language placement test administered by UVM.  You can approximate your Spanish level using the following:

-Beginner level students are those who have not taken Spanish before.
-Elementary/Pre-Intermediate level students have completed 1-3 semesters or 2-3 quarters of college level Spanish.
-Intermediate level students have completed 4-5 semesters/quarters of college level Spanish.
-High Intermediate level students have completed at least 5 semesters or 6 quarters of college level Spanish.

BEGINNER (A1) LEVEL

• Communicational Spanish & Chilean Culture – 44 contact hours

• Communicational Strategies of Written Spanish: Grammar & Composition – 44 contact hours

ELEMENTARY (A2) LEVEL

• Communicational Spanish & Chilean Culture – 44 contact hours

• Communicational Srategies of Written Spanish: Grammar & Composition – 44 contact hours

INTERMEDIATE (B1) LEVEL

• Communicational Spanish & Chilean Culture - 44 contact hours

• Communicational Strategies of Written Spanisg: Grammar and Composition - 44 contact hours

HIGH INTERMEDIATE (B2) LEVEL

• Communicational Spanish & Chilean Culture - 44 contact hours

• Communicational Strategies of Written Spanish: Grammar and Composition - 44 contact hours